School fine arts committee makes report

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Advisory Committee on the Fine Arts has made recommendations for improving curriculum, facilities and staffing for arts and music education in the 2004-05 academic year.

The fine arts committee presented its annual report to the board of education Thursday, June 3rd.

“The major challenge facing fine arts education in the district this year is staffing,” said Zina Joseph, president of the advisory committee.

The board of education decided in May to lay off 27 teachers in response to a $3.89 million budget shortfall.

“On the layoff list are two of the district’s 19 music teachers and two of the 15 art teachers,” Joseph noted.

“The layoffs of music and art teachers will eliminate specific classes and prevent students — who might be very successful — from seeking instruction,” she said.

Other recommendations include:

n expanding dance programs in elementary, middle and high schools;

n expanding middle school drama programs;

n bringing back an elementary school general music program, which was discontinued in 1983;

n hiring a part-time manager at Barnum Hall, which is Santa Monica High School’s theater for music and drama programs; and